Two legends in their respective fields spitting truth. Rest in peace to both.
Christmas Gifts To Myself
As much as I adore friends and family gifting me during this time, even during the holidays, you just gotta spoil yourself. Judging by all the stuff I bought the past month, I can safely say I spoiled myself way too much this Christmas. In my defense, it’s hard to turn down a good sale, and almost all the things you see in that left pic were bought for its original retail price. The luxe makeup and Diptyque set included. Those Adrienne Vittadini heels, which originally go for $100, were bought for $7 at Macy’s Backstage. Not even Goodwill would sell those heels for that cheap. And since shopping–which includes lots of walking, some driving, and occasional stressing–burns calories, I made myself a low-carb pecan pie to refuel! (I’m also aware of this pie and the chocolate advent calendar I bought, which conflicts with my low-carb ways. Don’t worry–it’s only 5 grams of carbs per chocolate bitty, and I’m only having one piece a day.) The recipe for the pie and crust can be found here.
Hope you all are having a joyous Christmas/holidays/Sunday/Monday!
ETA: if you’re wondering what I gifted myself…(clockwise from top left) Tom Ford Lip Discovery Set (bought during Bloomingdale’s sale two weeks ago), Diptyque L’Art Du Parfum set (bought new & sealed at a bargain on eBay and it is legit), Aqua holographic puffer (also bought during Bloomie’s sale, and a true holographic jacket has long been a coveted item of mine), Charter Club CZ ring (bought during Macy’s Black Friday sale), cheap but sweet holiday bracelets I got from Savers, Compartes Chocolate Advent Calendar (originally retails for $110+ but got it for $32 (!!) at Nordstrom a week ago), the Adrienne Vittadini heels, Welcome To Dunder Mifflin book (bought during Target’s Buy 2 Get 1 Free books/DVDs/CDs sale), and *takes a breath* Pat McGrath’s Moonlit Seduction palette (bought during her Black Friday sale).
Seasons Readings & Burnings
Christmas is right around the corner, and here’s what I’ve been burning and reading lately to get into the holiday spirit: Voluspa’s Crushed Candy Cane candle, and the memoir of the Queen of Christmas herself (that I was supposed to have finished up a while back). Mariah is a living legend and I’m glad she’s able to tell her story. And the tea she spills, dahling. As for the candle, its peppermint-vanilla-sugar notes had me hooked from the start. Plus, the adorable tin it’s in!
This Cool Poem – “A Winter Blue Jay”
To honor this first official day of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, this pleasant poem from Sara Teasdale:
Crisply the bright snow whispered,
Crunching beneath our feet;
Behind us as we walked along the parkway,
Our shadows danced,
Fantastic shapes in vivid blue.
Across the lake the skaters
Flew to and fro,
With sharp turns weaving
A frail invisible net.
In ecstasy the earth
Drank the silver sunlight;
In ecstasy the skaters
Drank the wine of speed;
In ecstasy we laughed
Drinking the wine of love.
Had not the music of our joy
Sounded its highest note?
But no,
For suddenly, with lifted eyes you said,
“Oh look!”
There, on the black bough of a snow flecked maple,
Fearless and gay as our love,
A bluejay cocked his crest!
Oh who can tell the range of joy
Or set the bounds of beauty?
Courtesy from Poets.org
Quote Of The Moment (12.18.22)
I shall let pop icon Christina Aguilera take this one:
Also, happy born day to one of my idols!
Tea Fiend
I haven’t been much of a writing fiend as of late (work and life got in the way), but if I’m unable to write my future New York Times bestseller (yeah, sure), one thing that stays constant in my life is enjoying a hot cuppa. If you saw my tea collection, you’d go guuuurrrl because yes I own that much tea. Not enough to open my own tea bar, but I’m pretty stocked, to say the least. (It’s also hard to turn down a BOGO Free sale on Yogi Tea at Sprouts.) What am I about to brew on this cold, rainy night is one of my all-time faves you see in the pic above, about to be paired with my Evil Queen mug. Trader Joe’s better not discontinue that tea!
Who Is The Playgirl?
Quote Of The Moment (11.30.22)
It’s a throwback, but not only does it come from one of my idols, it’s also a message that I’ve taken to heart. Both in my writing and in real life.
“I prefer women who kick ass and don’t get their ass kicked!” — Jackie Collins, on 50 Shades’ female lead character Ana Steele
One thing you should know about the stories I aspire to write is that my female protagonists will NEVER be docile doormats to men. I don’t do clichés.
I Adore: The Works Of Ellen Von Unwerth
From left to right: supermodel Claudia Schiffer for Guess Jeans, 1989, pop icon Kylie Minogue for i-D magazine, July 1994, and the master herself for UK Vogue, 2010s.
The imagery of former fashion model turned fashion/celebrity photographer Ellen Von Unwerth never fails to delight me. There’s something to her work that exudes vivacity, insouciance, and pure joy, and it’s something I’d like to see more of in today’s fashion photography, which I feel has gotten quite dreary for my tastes. (I want some fun again, darlin’.)
Some of my favorite captures from her (and there were many to choose from) after the cut!
Giving Thanks
To my true friends and family
For having this day off from work
To my day job that, despite it being a physical job, pays me well and my co-workers & management are all supportive
To all who voted for democracy during this year’s Midterm elections
To all who continue to fight for abortion/LGBTQ+/voting rights, gender equality, and abuse victims
To the scientists and medical professionals who helped create the Covid vaccines and boosters (happy to be 4X full of 5G microchipped goodness!)
To all the face masks I’ve worn that spared me from getting Covid (I still wear them in indoor public spaces and in large outdoor crowds and I’m not ashamed to do so…but I await the day when Covid becomes an endemic)
To anyone who asks me for an ID as I get another day older (I used to find it so odd when I was in my 20s, but as I near my 40s, I find it flattering)
For being a teen in the late 90s/early 2000s (my Xennial ass is showing here, but what a time to be young)
To all the low-carb websites for giving me all the recipes and carb substitutes when I went low-carb almost a year ago
To Yogi Tea (their teas are 🔥)
To Jackie Collins, Maya Angelou, Dorothy Parker, Sue Grafton, and Sharon Olds, for creating many of my all-time literary faves. My idols, all of them!
To The Simpsons (Seasons 1-10, to be exact), for all the LOLs
To jazz music and its artists, past to present
To thrift stores, where over half of my wardrobe and bedding came from
To the sport of hockey
To Lelo (I’m single; do I have to explain why?)
To Target for selling Lelo products 😀
To the fact that I live in a safe (and affordable) space, all to myself
For living in California
In knowing I had some things to be thankful for in this mixed bag of a year.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Lex Writes On 